There suddenly seems to be a lot of water in Oklahoma. I guess it isn't just the individuals who have problems with reality.

From http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/08/19/oklahoma.flooding/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

'...Residents of nearby Apache, Oklahoma, faced similar floods, which caught most people off guard, said Lt. Bobby Claborne of the Apache Fire Department. "We never thought we'd have a tropical storm in our area," he said. No evacuation plans were initiated until early Sunday, "but it was a little late" by then, he said.'

If only 7% of individuals have made some disaster preparations, I wonder what percentage of local governments have done so?

Sue

Well it was very interesting 24 hrs ago. I am up again, at work, and all is quiet compaired to the rain last night.

Most all vehicle rescues were conducted by the fire department due to their ability to drive tall heavy trucks right up to a car and pull everyone out.

Why people were out driving at 3-4 am is beyond me in the first place.

I was happy I could have walked home from work, if I had too, it's a short walk. I think we had more than 7 inches of rain fall really fast...........................

I am in the central part of the state not seen on TV...............

It was like a hurricane type storm. Then again we are use to lots of wind, just not the amount of rain.....

"...Why people were out driving at 3-4 am is beyond me..."

Heading home from the bars???

I drove a cab right out of college and that was when I would go to work.

Hey Sue,

I think there are at least two definitions of "preparedness" that would apply to local governments.

1) Policies and protocols written addressing disaster preparedness.

---- I suspect there is a fair number of municipalities that have "something" on the books that would qualify as a "plan" to make them eligible for some kind of federal or state grant. But it's only on paper.

2) Policies and protocols with actual human mechanisms in place/equipped/rehersed and redundant chains of commands in place and practiced.

---- I doubt anybody really has that done on a municipality level although I'm proud to say Baton Rouge is making some impressive progress toward it.

Katrina gave us a good kick in the gonads and the pain is still clear enough in our memories to make us want to avoid that experience again.

Some businesses (chem plants, hospitals, etc) and smaller entities (school systems, etc) would have that in place to one degree or another.

It pretty much goes back to the neighborhood/family/individual level to be prepared.

After Katrina I was impressed with my wife's church and how they responded to the needs.

It was the small local groups that had any initial effectiveness in dealing with the aftermath.

We evolved in small tribes, we survive in small tribes. No one survives alone for long.

"It was the small local groups that had any initial effectiveness in dealing with the aftermath."

Isn't it usually? And not just with disasters, etc. No matter what needs to be done, there are usually just a few people who have the initiative and know-how to actually get something accomplished. The others just stand around waiting for someone to take care of them, and complaining that nothing is being done fast enough.

Sue

True.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead
US anthropologist & popularizer of anthropology (1901 - 1978)